5 Ways to Treat Acid Reflux Symptoms Naturally

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Thursday, August 14, 2008

By Marrecca Fiore

The pain, burning and gassiness that

accompany acid reflux can be debilitating to those who suffer from the

condition.

Lifestyle and dietary changes that include eliminating sugary and fatty

food, exercising and quitting smoking can help, as can over-the-counter and

prescription medications.

But there are several natural remedies that can be used instead of or in

addition to medications, according to Dr. Allan E. Sosin, founder and medical

director of the Institute for Progressive Medicine in Irvine, Calif.

" It really depends on what’s going on with the person and whether

or not they’re having severe symptoms, " he said. " If

they’re not showing severe symptoms, we may just start them with natural

items. People will come in on the medications, and we’ll add the

nutritional supplements in and sometimes they’ll get off the acid

blockers altogether. "

Here are five natural remedies that treat the symptoms of acid

reflux:

Glutamine. An amino acid that naturally occurs in the human

body, glutamine can be found in dietary sources such as beef, chicken, fish,

eggs, milk, dairy products, cabbage, beets, beans, spinach and parsley. Sosin

said glutamine is an ant-inflammatory that reduces intestinal inflammation

associated with acid reflux. It is sometimes used to aid recovery after

abdominal surgery and is believed to have " cleansing " properties.

Aloe vera. The sticky gel that seeps from the aloe vera

plant has long been used to treat cuts and rashes and many believe the plant to

have medicinal properties when taken orally as a juice. Aloe vera has been used

to treat stomach upset, diarrhea and inflammation associated with bowel

diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

Licorice. Most often associated with candy, herbal licorice

is used in Eastern medicine to treat diseases of the spleen, liver and kidneys.

It is also believed to be effective in treating stomach and intestinal ulcers,

reducing stomach acid levels, coating the stomach wall with a protective gel

and relieving constipation.

Apple cider vinegar. Although this vinegar is purported to

treat everything from hay fever to warts (with little evidence to back up its

effectiveness), it does appear to have a calming effect on stomach acid.

" I really don’t know how it works, " Sosin said. " You

would think it wouldn’t because it’s very acidic on its own. But

lots of people respond to it really well. I think it may have something to do

with the fact that it helps with digestion and a lot of acid

reflux symptoms stem from not digesting food well. A lot of times, when

other things haven’t worked, people find apple cider vinegar does. And it

can be taken indefinitely. "

Sodium bicarbonate. Also called baking

soda, used to kill odors in refrigerators, this can be used as an antacid

to treat heartburn and stomach upset, Sosin said, adding that it is not

recommended for people with high blood pressure or those on sodium-restricted

diets.

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